Practicals for expats

After arrival

The first important steps

The first thing to do is to visit the tax authority and register so you can get a personnummer (equivalent to a social security number).

You do that in the town of Värnamo, roughly 25 kilometers away. The whole family needs to go there in person. Bring all your documents with you: passports, marriage certificates, employment contracts. You are not likely to need to show them except fo passports, but they may contain requested information when you fill in the necessary forms. It normally takes a week before you get your personnummer. After that, every door is open to you.  Moving to Sweden - Population registration | Skatteverket

The second thing to do is to is to open a bank account

You always have the right by law to open a bank account even if you don’t have a personnummer. However, it happens that banks are still hesitant. See then if your employer can help you out. You may want to wait for the personnummer. Then you can open a bank account online if you wish but that will require what is called a BankID. But if it takes longer time than expected to get a personnummer you can’t make local payments without fees, and your employer can’t pay you your salary. Local banks in Gnosjö are the local one Sparbanken Tranemo och Swedbank. Other major banks are represented in the city of Värnamo. 

The third (or second) thing to do is to get a BankId

You can’t get a BankId without a personnummer. The Bankid is an app on your phone or computer that works as an electronic identity card. The BankId can be used in contacts with authorities, businesses including banks of course and even associations to prove that you are you.

The fourth thing to do is to register with the Social Insurance Agency or “Försäkringskassan”.

You may do that online with a BankId. Otherwise their office is co-located with the Tax authority in Värnamo.
Försäkringskassan is responsible your child allowances, sick payments and other compensations that may apply.

The registration may take some time to get into effect and for example the child allowance can be delayed, but you will anyway get the money from the day of registration. Check the link here: Moving to, working, studying or newly arrived in Sweden - Försäkringskassan

Other things to do the first weeks in Gnosjö

If you bring along a car you must register it with the Swedish Transport Agency within one week of arrival. Check out the website here: Vehicle import and verification of origin - Transportstyrelsen     

Don’t forget to inform the school where your children will start that you arrived in Gnosjö and arrange for their introduction. If the children are pre-school children a parent is usually requested to take part in schooling-in process for up to two weeks. Be prepared to be around for the children the first month so they get a good introduction.

You may get yourself an unemployment insurance. The trade union and the human resources department at your workplace know more about this and if it is suitable for you.

Unionising is high in Sweden and normally there is a good relation between the employers and the unions. Sweden has a long history of very structured negotations which has led to few conflicts between employers and trade unions.